EP0248903B1 - Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur kompensation von änderungen der parameter eines optischen senders und eines optischen empfängers in einem optischen abtaster - Google Patents

Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur kompensation von änderungen der parameter eines optischen senders und eines optischen empfängers in einem optischen abtaster Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0248903B1
EP0248903B1 EP87903536A EP87903536A EP0248903B1 EP 0248903 B1 EP0248903 B1 EP 0248903B1 EP 87903536 A EP87903536 A EP 87903536A EP 87903536 A EP87903536 A EP 87903536A EP 0248903 B1 EP0248903 B1 EP 0248903B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
voltage
optical
optical receiver
phototransistor
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87903536A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0248903A1 (de
Inventor
Günter Gleim
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
Original Assignee
Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH filed Critical Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
Publication of EP0248903A1 publication Critical patent/EP0248903A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0248903B1 publication Critical patent/EP0248903B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
    • G01V8/00—Prospecting or detecting by optical means
    • G01V8/10—Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers
    • G01V8/12—Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers using one transmitter and one receiver

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for compensating changes in the parameters of an optical transmitter and an optical receiver in an optical scanner, which detects different brightnesses and in which the optical receiver receives light from the optical transmitter.
  • Optical scanners are e.g. used with light barriers or reflex couplers.
  • Reflex couplers are described in AEG-Telefunken, reflex coupler CNY 70, semiconductor information service 7.81.
  • reflex couplers In reflex couplers, light is radiated from an optical transmitter onto an object, which reflects the light onto an optical receiver.
  • the reflex coupler can be used, for example, to determine whether the object is moving, rotating, changing its position or changing its reflectivity. Table 1 on page 2 of the mentioned literature gives some examples of applications for reflex couplers.
  • the reflex coupler must have different brightness levels for color detection or marking scanning can distinguish because the object changes its reflectivity. The same problem occurs with a light barrier in which the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are directly opposite one another when translucent objects are pushed between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver, which attenuate the light to different extents.
  • the optical receiver in order to be able to evaluate the different gray levels of a filter that is pushed through between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver, the optical receiver must emit a different signal at each gray level, so that the different gray levels of the filter can be distinguished on the basis of different output signals. With the same gray levels, the same output signal should always be emitted so that the evaluation is reversible.
  • the invention solves this problem according to claim 1 in that the output voltage of the optical receiver, which is dependent on the light energy received, is compared with a reference voltage and in that the output voltage of the optical receiver is clamped to the reference voltage in order to adjust the supply voltage of the optical transmitter, when the light energy received by the optical receiver reaches an extreme value. Furthermore, the invention is concerned with a circuit arrangement for performing the method according to claim 2 or 3.
  • the output of an operational amplifier OP is connected to the anode of a light-emitting diode S provided as an optical transmitter, the cathode of which is at reference potential.
  • the inverting input of the operational amplifier OP is connected to reference potential via a first resistor R1 and to a voltage + U via a second resistor R2.
  • the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP is connected to the voltage + U via a third resistor R3 and to the reference potential via a capacitor C.
  • the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP is connected to the anode of a diode D, the cathode of which is connected to the voltage + U via a fourth resistor R4 and is connected to the collector of a phototransistor E provided as an optical receiver.
  • the emitter of the phototransistor E is at reference potential.
  • the output voltage U A is tapped at the collector of the phototransistor E.
  • the stage of the filter F which attenuates the light least, lies between the light emitting diode S and the phototransistor E. Because of the voltage divider from the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2, the potential at the inverting input of the operational amplifier OP has a fixed value. The resulting constant voltage between the inverting input of the operational amplifier OP and reference potential is referred to as the clamping voltage U K in the further course.
  • the operational amplifier OP now changes its output voltage and thus also the transmission power of the light-emitting diode S until the voltage between its two inputs becomes zero.
  • the clamping voltage U K drops across the capacitance C as well as across the first resistor R1.
  • the output voltage U A at the collector of the phototransistor E assumes the value of the clamping voltage U K
  • the operational amplifier OP changes - as already mentioned - its output voltage and thus also the transmission power of the light emitting diode S until the resistance of the phototransistor E assumes exactly the value at which the clamping voltage U K drops on the collector-emitter path.
  • the collector of the phototransistor E and the inverting as well as the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP are now all at the same potential, provided the diode D is an ideal component. In reality, however, the voltage on the collector-emitter path of the phototransistor E will be lower than the clamping voltage U K by the diode voltage.
  • the filter F If the filter F is now pushed between the light emitting diode S and the phototransistor E such that the attenuation increases from stage to stage of the filter F, the resistance of the phototransistor E also increases. Because thereby the potential at the collector of the phototransistor E becomes positive compared to the potential at the anode of the diode D, the diode D. blocks. When the diode D is blocked, however, the operational amplifier OP cannot change its output voltage because its two inputs are at the same potential or - with in other words - because the clamping voltage U K drops both at the first resistor R1 and at the capacitor C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the output voltage U A increases in steps if the attenuation of the filter F also increases in steps.
  • the staircase curve shown in FIG. 2 is traversed in the opposite direction: the output voltage U A decreases in steps, until, when the stage of the filter F with the lowest attenuation lies between the light-emitting diode D and the phototransistor E, it has dropped to the clamping voltage U K.
  • the filter with the lowest attenuation that is to say the brightest value
  • the filter is expanded by a step with even lower attenuation and this step is pushed between the light emitting diode S and the phototransistor E, the resistance of the phototransistor E decreases. Because this decrease makes the potential at its collector negative compared to the potential at the anode of the diode D, the diode D becomes conductive. The potential at the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP drops because the capacitance C is now discharged via the diode D.
  • the operational amplifier OP immediately regulates this state of different voltages across the first resistor R1 and the capacitance C by reducing its output voltage, so that the light-emitting diode S emits less light onto the phototransistor E.
  • the light output of the light emitting diode S is reduced until the resistance of the phototransistor E again assumes the value at which the clamping voltage U K drops on the collector-emitter path. In this stable state, the collector of the phototransistor E and the two inputs of the operational amplifier OP are at the same potential.
  • the output of an operational amplifier OP is connected to the anode of a light-emitting diode S provided as an optical transmitter, the cathode of which is at reference potential.
  • the inverting input of the operational amplifier OP is connected to reference potential via a first resistor R1 and to a voltage + U via a second resistor R2.
  • the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP is connected to a reference potential via a parallel circuit comprising a third resistor R3 and a capacitor C.
  • the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP is connected to the cathode of a diode D, the anode of which is connected to the voltage + U via a fourth resistor R4 and is connected to the collector of a phototransistor E provided as an optical receiver.
  • the emitter of the phototransistor E is at reference potential.
  • the output voltage U A is tapped at the collector of the phototransistor E.
  • the operational amplifier OP now changes its output voltage and thus also the transmission power of the light-emitting diode S until the voltage between its two inputs becomes zero. Because both inputs of the operational amplifier OP are then at the same potential, the clamping voltage U K drops at the capacitance C as well as at the first resistor R1. Assuming that the diode D is an ideal diode, the output voltage U A at the collector of the phototransistor E assumes the value of the clamping voltage U K , because the operational amplifier OP changes - as already mentioned - its output voltage and thus also the transmission power of the light emitting diode S until the resistance of the phototransistor E assumes exactly the value at which the clamping voltage U K drops on the collector-emitter path.
  • the collector of the phototransistor E and the inverting as well as the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP are now all at the same potential, provided the diode D is an ideal component. In reality, however, the voltage on the collector-emitter path of the phototransistor E will be lower than the clamping voltage U K by the diode voltage.
  • the filter F is now pushed between the light emitting diode S and the phototransistor E in such a way that the attenuation decreases from stage to stage of the filter F, the resistance of the phototransistor E also decreases. Because this makes the potential at the collector of the phototransistor E negative compared to the potential at the cathode of the diode D, the diode D. blocks. However, when the diode D is blocked, the operational amplifier OP cannot change its output voltage because its two inputs are the same Potential or - in other words - because the clamping voltage U k drops both at the first resistor R1 and at the capacitance C. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
  • the output voltage U A decreases in steps if the damping of the filter F also decreases in steps. If the filter F is pushed in the opposite direction, that is from the lowest attenuation stage to the highest attenuation stage between the light-emitting diode S and the phototransistor E, the staircase curve shown in FIG. 4 is traversed in the opposite direction: the output voltage U A increases in steps, until, when the stage of the filter F with the greatest attenuation lies between the light-emitting diode D and the phototransistor E, it has risen to the clamping voltage U K.
  • the filter with the greatest attenuation that is to say the darkest value, is always clamped on. If, for example, the filter is extended by a step with even greater attenuation and this step is pushed between the light emitting diode S and the phototransistor E, the resistance of the phototransistor E increases. Because this increase makes the potential at its collector positive compared to the potential at the cathode of the diode D, the diode D becomes conductive. The potential at the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier OP increases because the capacitance C is now charged via the diode D.
  • the operational amplifier OP immediately regulates this state of different voltages across the first resistor R1 and the capacitance C by increasing its output voltage, so that the light-emitting diode S illuminates more light the phototransistor E emits.
  • the light output of the light emitting diode S is increased until the resistance of the phototransistor E again assumes the value at which the clamping voltage U K drops on the collector-emitter path. In this stable state, the collector of the phototransistor E and the two inputs of the operational amplifier OP are at the same potential.
  • the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is always clamped to the brightest value, while the circuit arrangement from FIG. 3 is always clamped to the darkest value.
  • Changes in the parameters of the light emitting diode S and the phototransistor E as a result of temperature fluctuations and as a result of aging of the components are compensated for in the circuit arrangement from FIG. 1 each time at terminals to the brightest value, while in the circuit arrangement from FIG will.
  • the clamping voltage U K large for the circuit arrangement from FIG. 3, but small for the circuit arrangement from FIG. 1.
  • the circuit arrangements described are both for light barriers in which the optical transmitter and the optical receiver face each other, as well as suitable for reflex couplers.
  • the invention can advantageously be implemented in a video recorder.
  • the speed and angular position of the head drum of a video recorder must be precisely regulated.
  • dark lines for example, are painted on the circumference of the cover-shaped rotor of the head drum motor, which run through between the phototransistor E and the light-emitting diode S as in the case of a light barrier.
  • One of the lines is thicker than the rest of the lines. This line represents the darkest value that is being clamped on.
  • the lines are detected by the photodetector E, whose output voltage U A is used to control the stator coils of the head drum motor.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geophysics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Optical Communication System (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Manipulation Of Pulses (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
EP87903536A 1985-12-11 1986-12-04 Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur kompensation von änderungen der parameter eines optischen senders und eines optischen empfängers in einem optischen abtaster Expired - Lifetime EP0248903B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19853543666 DE3543666A1 (de) 1985-12-11 1985-12-11 Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur kompensation von aenderungen der parameter eines optischen senders und eines optischen empfaengers in einem optischen abtaster
DE3543666 1985-12-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0248903A1 EP0248903A1 (de) 1987-12-16
EP0248903B1 true EP0248903B1 (de) 1991-04-17

Family

ID=6288126

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87903536A Expired - Lifetime EP0248903B1 (de) 1985-12-11 1986-12-04 Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur kompensation von änderungen der parameter eines optischen senders und eines optischen empfängers in einem optischen abtaster

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US5043565A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP (1) EP0248903B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS62259023A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
KR (1) KR910006562B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) ATE62756T1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (2) DE3543666A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
HK (1) HK172795A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
WO (1) WO1987003700A2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4224409A1 (de) * 1992-07-24 1994-01-27 Thomson Brandt Gmbh Verfahren zur Kompensation von Änderungen der Parameter eines optischen Senders und eines als optischen Empfänger dienenden Phototransistors
DE4436319B4 (de) * 1994-10-11 2005-03-10 Nsm Loewen Entertainment Gmbh Münzprüfer zur Bestimmung der Echtheit von Münzen

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5132527A (en) * 1991-05-30 1992-07-21 Gec-Marconi Electronic Systems Corp. Compensation arrangement for opto-electronic reference generator
DE4312186C2 (de) * 1993-04-14 1995-04-06 Sick Optik Elektronik Erwin Verfahren und Vorrichtungen zur Feststellung von in einem Überwachungsbereich vorhandenen Gegenständen und/oder zur Feststellung deren Position
GB2353590A (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-02-28 Cintex Ltd Temperature compensation
DE10160626A1 (de) * 2001-12-11 2003-06-18 Sick Ag Auswerteschaltung und Signalverarbeitungsverfahren
JP2004165215A (ja) * 2002-11-08 2004-06-10 Hosiden Corp 光電センサ

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3436553A (en) * 1967-05-01 1969-04-01 Chalco Eng Corp Radiation sensitive lamp regulator for use with a tape reader
GB1174678A (en) * 1967-11-13 1969-12-17 Decca Ltd Improvements in Information Retrieval Apparatus
DE2142988A1 (de) * 1970-09-03 1972-03-09 Olivetti & Co Spa Schaltung zur Regelung des Lichtstromes einer Lampe
DE2735245A1 (de) * 1977-08-04 1979-02-15 Siemens Ag Anordnung zur erzeugung einer konstanten signalamplitude bei einem optoelektronischen abtastsystem
JPS5713327A (en) * 1980-06-27 1982-01-23 Laurel Bank Mach Co Ltd Optical detector
JPS5736366A (en) * 1980-08-12 1982-02-27 Sharp Corp Optical signal output circuit
JPS58121423A (ja) * 1982-08-09 1983-07-19 Ricoh Co Ltd フオトセンサ回路

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4224409A1 (de) * 1992-07-24 1994-01-27 Thomson Brandt Gmbh Verfahren zur Kompensation von Änderungen der Parameter eines optischen Senders und eines als optischen Empfänger dienenden Phototransistors
DE4224409B4 (de) * 1992-07-24 2005-08-25 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh Verfahren zur Kompensation von Änderungen der Parameter eines optischen Senders und eines als optischen Empfänger dienenden Phototransistors
DE4436319B4 (de) * 1994-10-11 2005-03-10 Nsm Loewen Entertainment Gmbh Münzprüfer zur Bestimmung der Echtheit von Münzen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3543666A1 (de) 1987-06-19
EP0248903A1 (de) 1987-12-16
DE3678832D1 (de) 1991-05-23
KR880700942A (ko) 1988-04-13
HK172795A (en) 1995-11-17
WO1987003700A2 (en) 1987-06-18
US5043565A (en) 1991-08-27
WO1987003700A3 (fr) 1987-07-30
KR910006562B1 (ko) 1991-08-28
JPH0470565B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1992-11-11
JPS62259023A (ja) 1987-11-11
ATE62756T1 (de) 1991-05-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE2853353C3 (de) Schaltungsanordnung zur Aufbereitung von in einem Verstärker verstärkten, impulsförmigen Signalen
DE2421389C2 (de) Schaltungsanordnung zum Ableiten von Datenimpulsen aus störungsbehafteten Eingangssignalen
DE2836571C2 (de) Verfahren zur Umwandlung eines Videosignals in ein Schwarz/Weiß-Signal
DE2923683A1 (de) Stabilisierungsschaltung eines lasers
DE3040424A1 (de) Datenextraktionskreis
EP0226853A2 (de) Optischer Empfänger
DE1537560B2 (de) Schaltungsanordnung für ein Faksimilesystem zur Erzeugung eines reinen Schwarz-Weiß-Signales aus der abzutastenden Information, unabhängig von dem jeweiligen Helligkeitswert des Untergrundes
EP0248903B1 (de) Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur kompensation von änderungen der parameter eines optischen senders und eines optischen empfängers in einem optischen abtaster
DE2029627C3 (de) Kompensationsschaltung für eine optische Abtasteinrichtung
DE2710875A1 (de) Optische impulsuebertragungsvorrichtung
DE3433697A1 (de) Automatische scharfeinstelleinrichtung
DE3406220C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE3726696C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE3622888A1 (de) Optische koordinaten-eingabeeinrichtung
DE1105914B (de) Schaltung zur automatischen Regelung und/oder Begrenzung der Hoehe von Impulsfolgen
DE2951879A1 (de) Photoekektrischer umformer mit einer photoelektrischen elementanordnung des ladungsspeichertyps
DE2065927B2 (de) Schwellwertschaltung
DE2809234C3 (de) Halbleiterlaser-Modulatorschaltung
DE69014484T2 (de) Anordnung zum Optimieren des Arbeitsgebiets eines A/D-Wandlers.
DE2553077A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur abtastung einer markierung auf einem papier
DE2837139A1 (de) Verfahren zur impulsaufsteilung
EP0282801B1 (de) Regelung des Multiplikationsfaktors von Lawinenphotodioden in optischen Empfängern
DE4224409B4 (de) Verfahren zur Kompensation von Änderungen der Parameter eines optischen Senders und eines als optischen Empfänger dienenden Phototransistors
DE2140535A1 (de) Abtastsystem für em Abtast Elek tronenmikroskop
DE3136629C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19870703

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

D17D Deferred search report published (deleted)
17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19900302

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 62756

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19910515

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3678832

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19910523

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 19921119

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19921215

Year of fee payment: 7

EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19930331

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19931204

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19931231

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19931231

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19931231

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: DEUTSCHE THOMSON-BRANDT G.M.B.H.

Effective date: 19931231

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 87903536.8

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 746

Effective date: 19970904

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: D6

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20051110

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20051216

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20051222

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20051222

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20051222

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20051223

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20051227

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20061203

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20061204

NLV7 Nl: ceased due to reaching the maximum lifetime of a patent

Effective date: 20061204

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed